BA strike wrecks hols for 1m Brits

Hundreds of cancelled flights will wreck the festive season for those planning to fly off for a break or visit relatives.[>

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Nine out of 10 cabin staff voted in favour of the walkout – over job cuts – that will start on December 22 and will run to January 2.[>

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Cabin crew earn an average £29,900 – double Virgin Atlantic’s staff, who are on £14,400.[>

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But BA is involved in a battle for survival having made a record loss of £401million last year.[>

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Len McCluskey, Unite union’s assistant general secretary, said: “We have taken this decision to disrupt passengers with a heavy heart and we are hoping that the company can still avoid it happening.[>

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“We would like passengers to be angry with the company.”[>

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He added: “It is something of an irony that the people responsible for making BA the best airline in the world are now engaged in a dispute.”[>

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Last month, BA announced plans to cut 1,200 jobs and freeze pay for two years.[>

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A spokesman for the troubled company slammed the planned action, saying: “A 12-day strike would be completely unjustified and a huge over-reaction to the modest changes we’ve announced.”[>

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Frances Tuke, a spokeswoman for travel organisation Abta, said: “People who have booked Christmas and new year package holidays involving BA flights will find that tour operators will either have to re-arrange flights for them or give them a refund.”[>